Centenarian still gives his priestly blessings

By Maria Young
The Catholic Free Press

The phrases “Blessed by God for 100 years” and “Not everybody looks this good at 100” were displayed on the shirt and hat, respectively, of a retired diocesan priest.

Surrounded by family and friends at Notre Dame Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester on Monday, Father Theodore R. Laperle celebrated his 100th birthday.  

Father Laperle’s sister Claire Halvey, and “kid” brother Paul Laperle, who are both in their 80’s, were there. Also in attendance at the birthday party was Kathleen Laperle, Paul’s wife; Carol McDonough, a close family friend; and Domenic Zarella, a family friend for whom Father Laperle was a spiritual director for nearly two decades.

Father Laperle was born Aug. 12, 1924 in Worcester, one of six children of Joseph H. and Marie A. (Hedge) Laperle.

He attended Worcester schools, graduating in 1942 from South High School before entering Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, St. Victor, Beauce, Quebec. He completed studies for the priesthood in 1953 at the Seminary of Philosophy and Grand Seminary in Montreal.

He was ordained June 5, 1954 in St. Paul Cathedral by Bishop John J. Wright, the first bishop of the Diocese of Worcester.

At the party Ms. McDonough told the story of the retired priest when he was a seminarian, describing him as a Latin scholar. She said Bishop Wright needed to make sure that all the seminarians knew Latin and so they were summoned to prove it.

If a seminarian did not adequately understand the language, he would have to spend the summer learning it at the College of the Holy Cross. Seminarian Laperle took the time to teach all his classmates so that they would “pass” when meeting with the bishop – and they all did.  

After ordination, Father Laperle had many assignments. He was associate pastor of the following parishes:  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Winchendon; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Webster; Our Lady of the Assumption, Millbury; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Gardner; Our Lady of the Rosary, Spencer; and St. Francis of Assisi, Fitchburg.  

On July 1, 1974, he was appointed pastor of St. Denis Parish, Ashburnham, and on Sept. 4, 1979, he was named pastor of Notre Dame des Canadiens Parish, Worcester.  

According to his family, the centenarian has always been exercising his mind and body.  
Ms. McDonough said that he loves books, and he will sometimes read the dictionary before bed.

Mr. Laperle said that his brother was an avid runner and once ran the equivalent number of miles that it would take to get to Denver, Colorado, from Ashburnham. (That is nearly 2,000 miles.)  
Family and friends joined Father Theodore R. Laperle, a retired priest of the diocese, for his 100th birthday on Monday at Notre Dame Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center. From left: Paul Laperle, brother; Kathleen Laperle, sister-in-law; Domenic Zarella, family friend; Claire Halvey, sister; and Carol McDonough, family friend.


In his 80’s, Father Laperle asked his doctor if he could start running again. Mr. Laperle said the doctor responded to his brother, “Maybe we can be happy just walking.”

“He is a natural athlete,” said Ms. McDonough. He played baseball, football, was a skier and even had a stint with horseshoes in seminary.  

So, might that be why Father Laperle has lived so long?

“Could be!” said Mrs. Halvey at the same time Mr. Laperle emphatically said “Yes!”

Mrs. Halvey talked about a green juice her brother would make – sometimes even to the disgust of the other priests he lived with.

Regarding his health, Ms. McDonough said that “he did everything right.”

The Laperles also have good genetics. Mrs. Halvey said that they had a cousin, Elizabeth, who lived to be 110 and a half. She passed in 2012.  

Father Laperle retired from being a pastor on Nov. 25, 1985, and was in residence and providing pastoral ministry at St. Bernard Parish in Fitchburg until it closed, then in residence and providing pastoral ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Fitchburg.

In his retirement years he said Mass every Sunday for the prisoners at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley. For 31 years he celebrated Mass six days a week for the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary at Our Lady of Hope House of Prayer in New Ipswich, New Hampshire.  

If it was bad weather, the sisters would have to call Father Laperle to make sure he did not come, said Mrs. Halvey.  

He also covered for priests in the diocese, around Massachusetts and in New Hampshire so they could take vacation. Once a month he would travel to Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility in the Boston Archdiocese, to celebrate Mass.  

“He always made himself very available,” said Mrs. Halvey.

“He made a lot of friends wherever he went,” said Ms. McDonough.

 When he turned 90, he decided to officially retire.

However, he has never stopped being a priest and offering his services wherever he goes.

Mr. Laperle said that Father Laperle was doing his priestly duties, giving blessings even while in recovery from COVID-19.  

Ms. McDonough spoke of an elderly woman “who was in bad shape” at one of the health care facilities and Father Laperle went right up to her and held her hand.  

“He goes out of his way to be kind,” she said.

Father Laperle hasn’t stopped.  

“That’s why he’s still here,” said Mrs. Halvey.  
“He’s not done. His work isn’t finished,” said Mr. Laperle.  

– Editor’s commentary: Father Laperle did not talk during the visit other than to sing to his own tune of “thank you” after a rendition of “Happy Birthday.” He did, however, read a new book given to him. Before leaving the party, Ms. McDonough asked him to give this journalist a blessing. It was like a switch flipped on in his brain and the words came out perfectly. After the “Amen,” Father Laperle, with a smile, ended by saying, “We pray that the Lord keeps you out of trouble.”